Anthony Tohill, manager of the Ireland team that will face Australia in the International Rules Test series in October, has begun his talent trawl as he prepares to draw up his preliminary squad.

And the Derry All Ireland winner, now a highly-respected RTE analyst, is paying particular attention to the Ulster Championship.

With three matches in the competition having been completed he has had an opportunity to assess candidates for the resumption of the Rules series which was put into cold storage last year at the request of Australia because of the global economic downturn.

Tohill was at Croke Park yesterday along with his selectors where the International Rules Broadcast and Team partners were revealed and he stressed that all four provincial football championships are under the microscope.

“We will be casting our net very wide and obviously it is our hope that we can retain the trophy which was won in Australia in 2008,” said Tohill, who acquired considerable experience of the International Rules as a player.

Tyrone’s triple All Ireland winner Sean Cavanagh skippered Ireland to success on that occasion and he will be among several high-profile Ulster players certain to come into the reckoning for this year’s matches against the Aussies.

Meanwhile, the Ulster Council’s Central Competitions Control Committee will convene on Sunday following the Armagh v Monaghan football quarter-final clash to agree semi-finals venues.

Tyrone and Down meet on Saturday, June 19 (5.15pm) and the likely venue is Casement Park.

The winners of Armagh v Monaghan will meet the victors from the Cavan v Fermanagh tie on Sunday June 27 with St Tiernach’s Park, Clones the possible venue.